Obituaries

Spencer Wallace Boyd, Jr.

Mr. Boyd was born on October 7, 1931, in Atlanta, Ga., to the late Verdery Rosenbusch Boyd and Spencer Boyd, Sr.

At age eight, Spencer went to camp. When he returned home he told his father that he would someday be a camp director and coach. Spencer made good on that promise, beginning his coaching career as senior diving and swimming instructor at Atlanta's Piedmont Driving Club while still in high school. He started his first summer camp at Atlanta's Chastain Park while attending the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship. While at UGA he also represented the United States as a springboard diver on the HavaAtlanta Swimming Team, competing in both Cuba and Atlanta.

After graduation, Spencer served as a commissioned officer in the Air Force before returning to Atlanta to establish Keywayden Camp at Lake Laurel. Outgrowing that space, the camp moved to a site in Roswell where he and his wife, Dot, developed it into the largest camp in Georgia devoted to coaching young men and women to national prominence in athletics, several who became All-Americans.

When I-400 was built across the camp property, Spencer turned to commercial real estate for several years. The desire to work with young people soon pulled him back into camping, however, and he purchased Camp Merri-Mac for girls in Black Mountain. He later added Camp Timberlake for boys. In 1968, he served on the U.S. Olympic Diving Committee.

Spencer was a Kiwanian, a Rotarian, an All-American diver, and a musician, but he most loved horses, showing and fox hunting for many years with Shake-A-Rag Hounds.

Spencer is preceded in death by his grandson, Joshua. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dorothy Coe Boyd; six sons; 11 grandchildren; a brother, George (Sara) Boyd, of Atlanta, Ga.; and a sister, Verdery (Mike) Kennedy, of Statesboro, Ga.

A celebration of life service was held January 2 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Burial was in Ridgecrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hope for Horses, www.hopeforhorses .org.

Robert Eugene (Bob) Brown

Robert Eugene (Bob) Brown, 85, of Swannanoa, died peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, January 5, 2013.

Born May 15, 1927, he was the son of Sheriff Laurence Brown and Willa Clayton Brown, of Black Mountain.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his twin brother, William T. "Bill" Brown. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Jane Ingle Brown; daughter, Pam Brown; son, Robert "Bert" Brown, Jr. (Mitzi); brother, Charles "Jack" Brown (Carolyn); sister-in-law, Joan Brown; as well as several cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

As a young man, Bob was an Eagle Scout, DeMolay, and 32nd degree Mason of the Scottish Rite. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 18th birthday with his brother, Bill, and served in Vieques, Puerto Rico. They were honorably discharged with rank of Seaman First Class and went to UT, Knoxville on the GI bill, earning their BA in business administration.

Bob went to work for the City of Asheville at the Burnette Reservoir and rose to the positions of superintendent of watersheds, water maintenance, and water production. After 36 years, he retired from the city and served as vice-chairman of the Asheville-Buncombe Water Authority. He served for a time as an auxiliary officer and later as chief deputy of the Buncombe County Sheriff's Department.

Being a child of the Great Depression, he practiced "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or Do without." To that end and through curiosity and perseverance, he became adept as a carpenter, plumber, electrician, golfer, and mechanic. There was not much he could not fix. He was a colorful storyteller and a keeper of the oral history of his beloved North Fork.

Bob was honored as a "First Century Superlative" by the Black Mountain Centennial Commission for his part in a series of historical surveys in and around the watershed. One of his fondest memories was the Rainbow Gap trip in '98 where, it is said, he out hiked a dozen younger men. A master fly fisherman and crack-shot, he was a proud member and president emeritus of the Black Mountain Rod and Gun Club. He enjoyed many fishing trips to Canada, Alaska, Florida, and the Outer Banks with his buddies, Hussey, Billy Edd, Charlie, and Pudd.

Bob was loved by all who knew him as a man who was slow to wrath, quick with mirth, and ever-mindful of the needs of others. His community service included work with the Swannanoa Library, Swannanoa Valley Youth Football League, and Swannanoa First Baptist Church, where he was a faithful member. Over the years he worked as chief usher, chairman of the building and grounds committee, deacon, trustee, and general secretary.

Perhaps his hardest earned title was "14 year stroke survivor." Despite his physical limitations he always managed a smile and endured much pain with little complaint. The family wishes to thank the wonderful people of Care Partners, especially his faithful caregivers, Joy and Midge. Special thanks also to the fine folks at Mission Hospital Heart Center.

Free of suffering and with a new, perfected body, Bob is now walking in the woods with Bill and his Dad, who are trying hard to keep up.

A memorial celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 10, at First Baptist Church of Swannanoa. After the service, the family will receive friends at the church. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at the State Veteran's Cemetery in Black Mountain. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory to the church, Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, or the Welcome Table of Swannanoa. Arrangements are in the care of Harwood's Home for Funerals.com.

Ethlyne Margaret Jackson Davidson

Lynchburg, Va. -

Ethlyne Margaret Jackson Davidson, age 66, recently of Black Mountain, died peacefully at her home in Lynchburg, Va., on Sunday, December 23, 2012, after a valiant 10-year battle with cancer.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Mrs. Davidson was born October 14, 1946, as the youngest of the three daughters of the late Emily Margaret Winters Jackson and William Wiley Jackson, of Rochester. She was the beloved wife of the Rev. Charles N. Davidson, Jr., of Lynchburg, and also the beloved mother of Steven Louis Jackson, of Charlotte, and Alexander Bernard Jackson, of Columbus, Ohio.

In addition to her husband and sons, she is survived by her sisters, Ann Jackson, of Paso Robles, Calif., and Mary Fiordeliso, of Rochester; grandsons, Sievey Kole Jackson and Trey Hunter Jackson, of Charlotte, and Cameron Alexander Jackson, of Columbus; step-son, Mark Fields Davidson, of Boston, Mass.; step-daughter, Katherine Christine Davidson, of Louisville, Ky.; and nieces, Rebecca Weill, of San Francisco, Calif., and Danielle Elkins, of Rochester.

A graduate of New Mexico Highlands University, Mrs. Davidson had a long nursing career in home health and mental health, as well as a nurse with Hospice of Marion County, Ohio, and Centra Hospice of Lynchburg. For the past 11 years she had a private practice as a nurse-massage therapist in Lynchburg and Black Mountain, where she and her husband planned to retire.

A service in celebration and remembrance of her life will be held in the sanctuary of the chapel at Warren Wilson College on Saturday, January 12, at 2 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Fund (breastcancerfund.org), the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org), or Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church (www.war ren-wilson.edu/~chapel/).

Tommy Wade Pruett "Puckett"

Mr. Pruett was born March 9, 1958, in Buncombe County to the late John Pruett and Mary Alice Limerick.

Tommy loved his family. He was well-known for his humor. Tommy was a jokester and loved to make people laugh. He enjoyed music and loved to dance. Tommy worked at the Black Mountain Center for seven years.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his step-father, Bob O'Connor.

Tommy is survived by his loving wife of 13 years, Sharon Lamb Pruett; daughter, Jennifer Greene, of Swannanoa; sons, Michael Pruett, of Leicester, and Joseph Pruett, of Old Fort; sisters, Linda McElreath and Christina O'Connor, both of Swannanoa; brothers, John Pruett, Kenneth O'Connor, and Michael O'Connor, all of Black Mountain; and grandchildren, Eryn Pruett, Sydney Pruett, Ayla Pruett, and Charlie Greene.

A celebration of life service was held January 7 in the chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals. Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals, www.har woodhomeforfunerals. com.

Albert Lee White

Black Mountain -

Albert Lee White, 88, of Black Mountain, went home to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, January 4, 2013. The family, whom he adored, was by his side and will miss this generous, faithful, compassionate, and loving soul who was an amazing husband, daddy, granddaddy, great-granddaddy, and friend to all.

He was born in Star, Miss., as one of nine children. He is survived by his wife, Christeen S. White, of Black Mountain; his son, Peck White and wife, Karen, of Roswell, Ga.; his daughter, Germaine Hill and husband, David, of Black Mountain; four grandchildren, Twila Webb and Heidi Hill, of Black Mountain, and Candice and Russell White, of Roswell; and three great-grandchildren, Hillary Buice and her husband, Corey, Alivia Brigman, and Chloe Helton, all of Black Mountain. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Jennifer White.

Al joined the U.S. Navy and proudly served his country during World War II. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he arrived in Black Mountain as part of his courageous recovery and rehabilitation from tuberculosis. He was a resident of Black Mountain for 64 years where he served his community in many ways. He was a fireman, assistant chief of police, and retired as the superintendent of water works for the Town of Black Mountain.

Al was a long time, faithful member of First Baptist Church of Black Mountain and actively served the church as a deacon, as well as in many other instrumental roles. He was a Master Mason of the 663 Masonic Lodge.

The family received friends January 7, at First Baptist Church, Black Mountain. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be made in Al's memory to the Eblen Foundation, 50 Westgate Parkway, Asheville, N.C., 28806, or your preferred charity.

The family holds on to the promise of seeing him again in heaven. "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals, 669-2977, www.harwoodho meforfunerals.com.